Self-winding mechanism for watches



Jan. 6, 1959 c. e. scoTT SELF-WINDING MECHANISM FOR WATCHES Filed Oct.11, 1952 INVENTOR. cg mps G. SCOTT ATTORNE Y United States Patent 92,867,078 SELF-WINDING MECHANISM F'on WATCHES Charles G. Scott,Kingsport, Tenn. Application October 11, 1952, Serial No. 314,314

6 Claims. (Cl. 58-82) This invention relates to a winding mechanism fortimepieces, and more particularly to a self-winding mechanism forwatches and clocks.

In the past, numerous forms of mechanism have been designed to windautomatically the main. spring of a timepiece. jectiouable for one ormore reasons, including high .cost, complication, thus making themdifiicult to repair and replace, and large size, thus making watchesincluding self-winding mechanisms-of too large size to be worn on thewrist. The apparatus of the present invention is designed to avoid allof the above-mentioned objections to previously-proposed. self-Windingmechanisms; is designed to be manufactured and assembled at smallexpense; is relatively uncomplicated so as to make it fairly simple torepair and replace the elements of the mechanism; and is of small andcompact size so as to make it possible to provide even tiny womenswatches with selfwinding mechanisms.

Another objection to some of the previously-proposed self-Windingmechanism for timepieces has been that the windingtrain of the mechanismwas only engaged with the train of gearing connected tothe main springwhen the Weight used to provide the windingenergy was moved in onedirection. If the weight was moved in some other directionduring-movement of the timepiece, the weight was disengaged from thetrain of gearing, so that'winding of the main spring only took placewhen the timepiece was moved in one direction. In contrast, themechanism of the present invention is designed so that the winding trainis always positively engaged with the winding gear and so that thewinding gear is rotated in such direction as to wind the mainspring tostore they necessary energy to operate the timepiece, no matterin whatdirection the timepiece is moved.

The mechanism of the present invention comprises generally a windinggear mounted on the arbor of the main spring adjacent two other arborssupported, for instance, onthe main plate of the timepiece, a weightmovable in opposite directions or rotatable, and so connected to thearbors as to cause them to move in opposite directions when the weightis moved in one direction, and means for transmitting movement of thetwo arbors into rotation of the winding gear in the same direction nomatter in which direction the weight is moved. The apparatus furtherincludes a pinionmounted on each of the arbors and rotatableindependently thereof, the pinions being connected to the winding gear,and one-way clutch means for each pinion connected between the arbor onwhich the pinion is mounted and the pinion, so that the pinions are onlypositively rotated by the arbors when the arbor are rotated in suchdircction that the clutch means are engaged.

The apparatus of the present invention is particularly designed for usewith wrist watches, but it may just as well be used wtih clocks mounted,for instance, on the shaft of the steering wheel of an automobile ormounted in a boat, for the apparatus is adapted to Wind the mainHowever, such mechanisms have been obenergy to operate the timepiece.

did spring of atimepiece whenever it is attached to'some mechanism thatis moving sufiiciently to wind the mainspring.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be more fully described inconjunction with the. accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a plan View of one form of the automatic winding mechanism ofthe present'invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view ofthe apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is aplan view of another form of the apparatus of the invention;and.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the apparatusof Fig. 3.

The apparatus of' thefirst form of the invention is mounted on the usualmain plate 1 of a timepiece having a winding gear 2 mounted on an arbor3 extending into thetispring barrel/3 and connectedto the mainspring(not shown). Rotation of the winding gear 2in one direction, as shownin' Figs. 1 and 2 the clockwise direction, causes the main-spring to bewound to store up The automatic winding mechanism includes a bridge 5supported above the main plate 1 bybridge screws 6. A pair of arbors 7and 8 have their lower ends bearing in the main plate 1 and extendthrough the bridge 5. A rotatable or oscillatable driving member orweight 9 has a sleeve 10 attached by means of a screw 1;. to the arbor 8so as to rotate the arbor when the weight is moved.

Rotation of the arbor- S in response to movement of the weight istransmitted to the arbor 7 by means of meshing-gears Hand 13 secured tothe respective arbors.

A-one-way clutch-is mountedon the arbor 8 audiocludesan-upper'ratchetmember 14 attached'to the gear 12: and alower ratchet member 15 urgedinto engagementwith-the upperratchet member 14 by a spring 16;

. the lower ratchetmember l5 being rotatable independently. of the.arbor 8. A similar one-way clutch is mounted on the arbor 7 and includesan upperratchet member 18 secured to the gear 13, and a lower ratchetmember 19urged into engagement with the upper ratchet member 18' by aspring 26, the lower ratchet member 19, like the lower ratchet member15, being rotatable independently of its arbor.

Each of the one-way clutches is designed so that its upper and lowerratchet members engage tocause the arbor to rotate positively. the lowermember when its arbor is-r-otating in a counterclockwise direction. Whenthe arbor isrotatingin a clockwise directiom'the lower member of theclutch is free for movement independently of the arbor. I

The means for transmitting movement of the gears 12 and 13 int-orotation of the winding gear Zincludes a pair ofpinions 21 and- 22,mounted on the lower members .15 and '19, respectively, of the twoone-way clutches. A fourth gear or idler wheel 23 is rotatably mountedon 'a' 'stud '24 having its lower end secured in the main plate 1, the:fourth gear engaging with both pinion 21 and pinion 22. The winding gear2 engages only with the pinion= 22.

In operation of the form oftheinvention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when thedriving member or weight 9 ismoved in the clockwisesense or direction byreason of movement of the timepiece, the arbor 8 moves in the samedirection, but that direction of rotation does not cause engagement ofthe members 14 and15 of the oneway clutch means, so that the pinion 21is not rotated by the clockwise movement of the arbor 8. However,

v thegear 12 meshes with the gear13 and the clockwise movement of'theformer gear causes a counterclockwise movement of the lattergear so thattheratchet members 18 and 19 of the one-way clutch on the arbor 7 areengaged." The pinion Z2 consequently rotates in "a 3counterclockwisedirection with the gear 13, and since the. pinion 22 isengaged with the winding gear 2, the winding gear is rotated in aclockwise direction.

When the weight 9 moves in a counterclockwise sense .oridirection, the.arbor 8 and the gear 12 are moved in 'a' similar direction; andtheratchetimembers' 14 and 15 of the one-way clutch mounted on the arbor.8 .engage, thus causing rotation of the pinion-21 in a counterclockwisedirection. Rotation of -the pinion 21 in a counterclockwise directioncauses the rotation of the fourth gear or idler wheel 23 in a clockwisedirection, and since the gear 23 is engaged with the pinion 22, thepinion is moved in a counterclockwise direction. Again, thecounterclockwise movement of the pinion 22 causes a clockwise movementof the winding gear 2, since the winding gear is engaged with thepinion. Consequently, it will be seen that the winding gear is alwaysrotated in the proper direction to wind the main spring of the timepiecewhenever the weight moves, no matter in which direction it moves.

It will be seen that the fourth gear or idler wheel 23 and the windinggear 2 always rotate in the same direction, so that it would be possibleto dispense with the fourth gear merely by having the winding gearengaged with both pinion 21 and pinion 22. However,

the provision of the fourth gear or idler wheel makes it easier todismantle the winding mechanism of the timepiece, since the winding gearis only engaged with one pinion, thus rendering access thereto and itsremoval more simple.

Most of the elements of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4are identical with the corresponding elements shown in Figs. 1 and 2 andsuch elements will not be further described but are indicated in Figs. 3

and 4 with the same numerals primed as used in Figs. 1

and 2. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a drivingmember or weight 25 which is rectilinearly movable in oppositedirections is utilized instead of the rotatable or oscillatable weight 9of Figs. 1 and 2. The weight 25 is reciprocable along a slot 26 in abridge 27 mounted by means of screws 29 and sleeves 30 above the mainplate 1' of the timepiece. A cap screw 31 carrying a washer 32 guidesthe weight 25 along the slot 26 and holds the weight against the bridge27. To

transmit movement of the weight 25 into movement of the windingmechanism, the weight carries a rack 33 which engages with the gear 12of the winding train. The cap screw 31 is fastened to a block 25' whichis fixed to the weight 25 against movement with respect thereto. is ofapproximately the same width as the slot, so as to prevent movement ofthe weight transversely of the trackway.

In operation of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, whenthe driving member or Weight 25 moves towards the left, the gear 12 isrotated in a clockwise direction because of its engagement with the rack33. The arbor 8' is then rotated in the same direction and the gear 13'and arbor 7' are rotated in a counterclockwise direction. The ratchetmembers 18 and U of the one-way clutch mounted on the arbor 7 thenengage, causing counterclockwise rotation of the pinion 22' with thearbor 7'. Since the pinion 22 is engaged directly with the winding gear2', the winding gear rotates in a clockwise direction.

When the weight 25 is moved towards the right, the gear 12 is rotated ina counterclockwise direction, thus causing rotation of arbor 8' in thesame direction. The ratchet members 14' and 15' of the one-way clutchmounted on the arbor 8' are engaged to cause movement of the pinion 21in the counterclockwise direction with the arbor 8'. Rotation of thepinion 21' in a counterclockwise direction causes rotation of the fourthgear or idler wheel 23 in a clockwise direction, and since this gear isengaged with the pinion 22', the latter pinion The block 25' projectsinto the slot 26 and rotates in a counterclockwise direction.Counterclockmovement about an axis in opposite directions, oroscillatory movement, and rectilinear movement in opposite directions. r

The embodiments of the invention described above are only illustrativeof the present invention and it is obvious that many changes could bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly,the invention is not restricted to the specific embodiments shown anddescribed but only by the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a winding mechanism for a timepiece having a mainspring and awinding gear for the mainspring, the improvement which comprises a pairof spaced rotatable arbors, a reciprocatory driving member so connectedto one of said arbors that movement of said driving member in one sensecauses rotational movement of said one of said arbors in one direction,and movement of said driving member in the opposite sense causesrotational movement of said one of said arbors in the reverse direction,

a pair of meshing gears secured to the respective arbors for rotationtherewith, a pinion mounted on each of said arbors for rotationindependently of the arbor on which it is mounted, a fourth gear,distinct from said winding gear, mounted for rotation about its axis andmeshing with each of said pinions but not meshing with said windinggear, and one-way clutch means between each pinion and the gear mountedon the same arbor therewith, each of said one-Way clutch means beingengaged when its respective arbor is rotating in the same direction,only one of said pinions meshing with the Winding gear, whereby movementof said driving member in either of said senses causes rotation of thewinding gear in the same direction.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said driving member ismovable oscillatively to rotate said arbors.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said driving member ismovable rectilinearly in opposite directions to rotate said arbors. V

4. In a winding mechanism for a timepiece having a mainspring and awinding gear for the mainspring, the improvement which comprises a pairof spaced rotatable arbors, a pair of meshing gears secured to therespective arbors for rotation therewith, a pinion mounted on each ofsaid arbors for rotation independentlyof the arbor upon which it ismounted, only one of said pinions on one of said arbors meshing withsaid winding gear, one-way clutch means between each pinion and the gearmounted on the same arbor therewith, a driving member mounted on saidtimepiece for rectilinear movement in opposite senses, whereby movementof said driving member in one sense causes rotation of said arbor in onedirection and rotation of said winding gear in one direction only, afourth idler gear, distinct from said winding gear, said fourth gearmeshing with each of said pinions but not meshing with said windinggear, whereby movement of said driving member in the opposite sensecauses rotation of the other arbor in the one direction of said onearbor and, through said fourth gear and the pinion mounted on said onearbor, the rotation of said winding gear in said one direction only.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 including a rack mounted on saiddriving member, said rack meshing with the gear on one of said arbors. I6. An automatic winding mechanism for a timepiece having a mainspringcomprising a Winding gear for the mainspring, a pair of spaced rotatablearbors, a pair of meshing gears secured to the respective arbors forrotation therewith, a pinion mounted on each of said arbors for rotationindependently of the arboron which it is mounted, only one of saidpinions on one of said arbors meshing with said winding gear, one-wayclutch means between each pinion and the gear mounted on the same arbortherewith, an oscillatory driving member mounted on an arbor of saidpair, whereby movement of said driving member in one sense causesrotation of the said one arbor in one direction and rotation of saidwinding gear in one direction only, a fourth idler gear, distinct fromsaid winding gear, said fourth gear meshing with each of said pinionsbut not meshing with said winding gear, whereby movement of said drivingmember in the opposite sense causes rotation of the other arbor in theone direction of said one arbor and, through said fourth gear and thepinion mounted on said one arbor, the rotation of said winding gear insaid one direction only.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS St.Mary Mar. 30, 1909 Jenkins Mar. 9, 1915 Lorarn Apr. 23, 1929 Annen May2, 1933 Payne Nov. 6, 1934 Vikhman Dec. 31, 1940 Bolsey Dec. 22, 1942FOREIGN PATENTS Denmark Mar. 24, 1899 France July 9, 1928 SwitzerlandDec. 1, 1930 Switzerland Dec. 16, 1948 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1951Switzerland Dec. 17, 1951

